The Bridge World

MASTER SOLVERS CLUB

Scores for the November 2024 Contest

Problem A

Matchpoints
Both sides vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ A K 5

♥ K Q 10 9

♦ K Q 8 4 3

♣ A

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
—	2 ♠	Pass	Pass
?

What is your plan?
(a) 3 NT
(b) Double; then, after
(Pass) - 2 NT - (Pass) - ?
(b1) pass (b2) 3 ♦ (b3) 3 ♠ (b4) 3 NT

Action	Score	Panel Votes	% of Solvers
b4	100	17	50
a	80	4	19
b2	70	4	22
b3	60	2	9
b1	10	0	1
else	0	0	0

Problem B

Imps
North-South vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ A 5 3

♥ A J 7 4 3

♦ Q 2

♣ K 8 3

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
—	1 ♣	1 ♦	3 ♣^*
?

^*preemptive

What call do you make?

Action	Score	Panel Votes	% of Solvers
3 ♥	100	11	65
3 NT	90	10	17
Double	80	6	16
3 ♦	0	0	2
else	0	0	0

Problem C

Imps
Neither side vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ Q J 7 6

♥ J 4

♦ J 7 6 2

♣ K 7 3

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
Pass	1 ♠	2 ♥	Pass
Pass	2 ♠	Double	Pass
?

What call do you make?

Action	Score	Panel Votes	% of Solvers
2 NT	100	16	59
3 NT	80	7	16
Pass	70	4	12
3 ♥	10	0	5
3 ♦	0	0	7
else	0	0	1

Problem D

Imps
Both sides vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ A Q 5 4

♥ K 10 6

♦ —

♣ A Q 10 7 6 2

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
—	—	—	4 ♥
?

What call do you make?

Action	Score	Panel Votes	% of Solvers
5 ♣	100	13	50
Double	80	6	23
4 ♠	70	4	2
Pass	60	4	23
6 ♣	10	0	0
4 NT	0	0	2
else	0	0	0

Problem E

Matchpoints
East-West vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ A K Q 9 5 2

♥ —

♦ J 10 7 5

♣ A K 4

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
1 ♠	Pass	2 ♦	Pass
?^*

^*BWS: 3 ♥ = splinter

What call do you make?

Action	Score	Panel Votes	% of Solvers
4 ♥	100	7	7
3 ♥	90	9	51
2 ♠	70	3	18
3 ♦	60	2	11
3 ♣	50	1	2
5 ♦	40	1	0
7 ♦	20	0	0
6 ♦	10	0	0
6 ♠	10	0	0
5 ♥	0	4	5
3 ♠	0	0	3
4 NT	0	0	2
else	0	0	1

Problem F

Matchpoints
East-West vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ 10 7 6 5 3

♥ A

♦ A 7 2

♣ A K Q J

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
1 ♠	Pass	1 NT	Pass
2 ♣	Pass	2 ♥^*	Pass
?

^*BWS: Bart applies

What call do you make?

Action	Score	Panel Votes	% of Solvers
3 ♥	100	10	14
3 ♦	80	5	8
Pass	70	5	30
2 NT	70	4	26
4 ♥	60	3	7
3 NT	0	0	11
3 ♣	0	0	2
2 ♠	0	0	1
else	0	0	1

Problem G

Imps
North-South vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ A Q J 9 4 2

♥ A Q 10

♦ J 10 9 5

♣ —

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
1 ♠	2 ♣	2 ♠	3 ♣
?

What call do you make?

Action	Score	Panel Votes	% of Solvers
4 ♣	100	17	15
4 ♠	80	6	52
3 ♥	60	2	12
3 ♦	50	1	15
3 ♠	40	1	5
Double	0	0	2
else	0	0	0

Problem H

Matchpoints
Neither side vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ J 10

♥ K Q 9 8 3

♦ 10 9

♣ Q 10 7 3

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
—	—	—	1 NT
Pass	2 ♣	Pass	2 ♥
Pass	3 NT	(All Pass)

What is your opening lead?

Action	Score	Panel Votes	% of Solvers
♠ J	100	20	66
♠ 10	80	0	0
♥ K	70	2	8
♣ 3	60	2	16
♥ Q	60	2	1
♥ 3	50	1	2
♥ 8	50	0	2
♥ 9	50	0	0
♦ 10	20	0	4
♣ 7	0	0	1
else	0	0	0

MSC CONTEST

These are the scores that were assigned to the problems, as well as the number of votes each solution received from our expert panel, and the approximate percentage of solvers' answers.

See the November issue of The Bridge World to read the panel's in-depth discussion of these contest problems—see how each expert answered and learn how they came to their decisions.